The Super-Durable and Super-Versatile Tarp

(funky music)

Lots of backpackers know about the ten essentials.

These are survival items, the kind of stuff you must have

with you before heading out into the wilderness.

The list may vary, but it generally includes something like

a map, a compass, food and water, first aid, a knife,

stuff like that.

And then there's shelter.

That is what this tarp was designed for.

It might not look all that different from the blue tarps

you see down at the hardware store, but it is.

A French aid worker designed it for agencies like the UN,

Doctors Without Borders, and The Red Cross.

It's four meters wide by six meters long,

but they also come in lengths of up to 60 meters.

It's built to withstand some of the most punishing

conditions on Earth, which is really important

when you're providing shelter to people displaced

by natural disasters, persecution, or political unrest.

The tarp is essentially a woven sandwich.

White plastic on the outsides for heat dissipation

and a super sturdy black middle layer

that absorbs plastic-destroying UV light.

In tests against regular tarps in brutal coastal weather,

the white one was the clear survivor.

This tarp was made for relief agencies,

but you can find similar tarps that are high quality

and triple laminate like this one online.

And these things aren't just for shelter.

You can even turn it into clothing or a backpack.

Aid workers say that the tarps' versatility makes it

one of the most important pieces of gear to have on hand

in a disaster situation, so consider adding one

to your essentials list.

You never know when it might come in handy.

(funky music)